Increase Your Sales!

Are you a business owner looking to increase your sales in this economy? I am, and I’m always looking for new ways to increase my sales. Lately however it’s been really tough going with sales. It seems what ever I try to do it’s just not working like I want it to. Some of the things I have is running discounts and compiling services, selling packages basically. I’ve even lowered prices on a few of the products I offer, which has worked a little. But when you start lowering prices it underscores your products services in my opinion. And then what do you do with the customers you have paying full price, do you lower them as well? I know I would want my price lowered if I was a customer paying full price.

So I’ve been looking for new ways to get my name out there. One way is marketing offline, something I’ve never thought about before. Since all of my services and products are related to webmasters and site owners I’ve never marketed offline. I’ve been thinking about doing some direct marketing by sending out fliers. I’m even thinking about sending a postcard to some of my customers to let them Know I appreciate their business. I think by sending a full color postcard could go a far way, and hopefully bring in new customers. I know I would like to receive a great looking postcard with the vendors I do business with. The cost of a few postcards is very cheap, and the amount of business coming in could be huge. After all word of mouth is the best form of marketing. The more people you have saying great things about you will grow any business. What do some of you think about marketing online services offline, do you think it would work?

FAO Schwarz!

What in the world happened to FAO Schwarz? I had no idea they filed for bankruptcy in 2002, and then again in 2003. Then I read that not to long ago they were sold to Toys R Us Inc. I’m not sure how will Toys R Us will do with them, or if they even fit in with them. FAO Schwarz only has 2 locations, that I know of. One is their flagship store in NYC, and the other one is located in Las Vegas. They also run a catalog business, which up till today I thought they where doing very well. I guess their main customers, the rich folk aren’t buying their toys anymore. I once went to their store in NYC and saw race care their listed for over $25,000, a kids race car. Their toys are over priced, only the rich shopped there. Now with Toys R Us taken them over maybe we’ll see prices come down to where everyone will be able to afford that crap.

Your Small Business?

Most “experts” think before you sell your small business you should maybe try to acquire another company to look bigger. You should maybe also think about taking on investors. Also, you need to know how much your business is worth. Think you already know that number? Most of you already think you know – but you could be wrong. Most of the entrepreneurs out there just take a wild guess at it. So, before you sell, know your businesses true value. You should maybe hire a business broker to evaluate business. They could give you a true value of what your company is worth in this economy. And last, don’t forget to do your research, after all you want full value.

Intel Corp Pays!

For doing one of the biggest scams around the world last year, Intel Corp, the biggest chip maker will pay euros $1.06 billion in fines. That comes out to about $1.44 billion is U.S dollars. Intel had used illegal sales tactics to stop other chip makers from coming to market. This hurts us, the consumers, we had a cheaper product to buy but couldn’t, because Intel paid them off. One of the other chip makers paid off was AMD, which should be fined as well. After all they took payment to delay computers with their chip in it.

The European Commission stated that Intel broke the law. That law is the EU competition law. They simply paid another maker not to sell their product, which is breaking the law, so now they must pay. About 2 years ago Microsoft pulled the same scam, they where fined euros $899 million, which I think their appealing. I’m sure Intel will appeal as well. Other country’s around the world are fining Intel as well. They better just pay their fines and move on, after all they took advantage of every consumer out there. If they pull this scam again their going to be unable to sell their crap anywhere, and that would be the end of them.